Due to my own stupidity, I paused this without thinking of which stories I truly wanted to pause. Sorry.
Anyway, yeah, I know this storyline doesn't get many readers, and I am really grateful to the reviewers I have. Hopefully you continue reading, but I am going through something right now. This won't be updated as often.
As always, I own none of the original.
"Calla!" I scream, racing toward my mother, who is venturing too close to the Cross. I see the wraiths under the door when she doesn't and push harder, sparing the breath to howl: "Run!"
My legs collapse under me as the nightmare changes again, growing into a dense cloud of blackness. Voices taunt me. Unseen teeth rip at my flesh. I yelp in pain and as an attempt to call for help, but my voice gets lost in the din as lightning begins to crackle. Thunder explodes around me, pounding against my eardrums. I can feel myself falling… falling…
I wake with a start, bolting upright in bed. My heart hammers painfully against my ribcage, as if trying to tear itself out and end my misery through death. I take a few ragged breaths before forcing deeper ones. My shrieking lungs' cries soon die off when oxygen surges through me. I shove my face into my hands. Unfamiliar stings pierce my closed eyelids. For the first time in Lupus knows how long, I begin to cry.
My pendant radiates heat, and I am tempted to throw it across the room. A knock raps over my door, followed by a familiar scent.
"Come in," I acknowledge, rolling onto my side.
Ren slips into the room like a shadow. I shudder, the nightmare fresh in my mind. When I get sleep, it seems to have the plague. When I don't… well, I don't.
"Something told me you were awake. Are you okay?"
I slide over a bit to give him room. He settles down beside me, pulling me against his chest. I press my face into the curve of his neck, breathing in familiarity and trying to get rid of the pieces of my dream. "You know, you don't have to worry so much. You and Brady are turning into twenty-four-hour bodyguards."
"Aqua."
There is so much warning in his voice that I lift my gaze to his. "What?" I ask innocently. Menace flashes in his eyes, and that's enough to make me wrench away from him, put as much distance between us as I can. "Look, I'm not sleeping properly. I think we all established that. If you wanted to talk, you need to start talking or get the hell out." I run my tongue over my canines, which are growing sharper by instinct.
He sighs. "Aqua, you know I won't – I can't – hurt you. Don't let fear overrule that warrior's spirit you used to have."
"I still have it!" I snap.
"I know. Remember, we grew up together? I can get you out of anything… well, almost anything," he corrects with a hushed growl. "About the bodyguard comment, you don't need any. You can protect your own. Sometimes I just want to keep you safe, though."
Closing my eyes, I let him draw me close once more. "Brady is a threat to you, isn't he?" I rasp, still unsure about my feelings toward either of them.
Ren kisses the crown of my hair. "Yeah, he is. I don't want to lose you to the Cross or to him… or to anything! I kind of want to keep you to myself."
"That's basically impossible," I remind him gently, feeling sleep tug at me at last. "Will you stay with me tonight?" I venture, although I know by now that I do not need to.
His grip tightens. "You mean keep the nightmares away? Of course," he adds when my eyes snap open. "I wouldn't let anything near you if I could help it. You should be safe." He pecks my lips briefly, sending a rush of surprise and longing through me.
"Just promise me something before you do something you'll regret."
"What?"
"Don't kiss me again." With that, I allow the void to claim me.
Luckily, no dreams/nightmares chase me this time.
Whatever I had planned for this chapter a few months ago, I forgot. (The "Jaded" here means "exhausted," nothing to do with gems!) So you have a little more Ren-Aqua time, even if Aqua herself doesn't want it. I promise that the next chapters will have more action. The plan will be formed soon!